Willard f



(No Model.) I

W. P. RICHARDS.

GAR BUFFER No. 533,319. Patented Jan. 29, 1895.

L 'IIII/ Inventor.

Witnesses:

Attorneys;

GOULD COUPLER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAR-BUFFER.

QPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 533,319, dated January 29, 1895.

Application filed June 29,1894. Serial No. 516,120. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLARD F. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oar-Buffers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a car buffer designed more particularly for freight and cattle cars.

The object of my invention is to construct an eflicient buffer which is readily applied to an ordinary car.

In the accompanying drawings:-Figure 1 i5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a freight car provided with my improved buffer. Fig. 2 is atop plan view thereof, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section in line 3-3, Fig. 2. Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A is the end sill of the car frame; l3, the draw head, and O the draft gear, which parts may be of any common construction.

2 5 D is a transverse base plate or bracket secured to the end sill and having on its front side a central horizontal socket E and horizontal side sockets E arranged on opposite sides of the central socket, all of said sockets projecting forwardly from the base plate and being connected by ribs or webs e.

F is the buffer or transverse buffer plate, which is carried by a central stem f and side stemsf'f passing through the central and side sockets E E, respectively. These stems are pivoted to the buffer at their outer ends by vertical pins or bolts f so as to permit the buffer plate to oscillate or assume an angular position in rounding curves. o G is a hollow cylindrical follower sliding lengthwise in the central socket of the base plate and having within its front portion a pocket 9 which abuts with its bottom or closed end against a shoulder 'or enlargement g 5 formed on the front portion of the central stem)". The latterpasses through an opening formed in the bottom of the follower pocket and is connected with the follower by a verti- 3 cal pin or key h which passes through the stem go and a pair of perforated horizontal ears h proof simple construction jecting forwardly from the follower pocket, above and below the stem. The outward movement of 'the follower is limited by radial pins or bolts t secured to the outer portion of the central socket and entering longitudinal slots 2" formed in the adjacent end of the follower. The rear portion of the central stem passes through an opening in the rear end of the central socket and enters an opening or recessj formed in the end sill in line with said opening.

K represents a light, central extension spring which holds the bufier in its normal projected position and which resists any ordinary shocks received by the same. This6 5 spring surrounds the central buifer stem and bears at its front end against the bottom of the follower pocket g and at its rear end against the adjacent end of the central socket E.

1 L is a heavy buffer spring which surrounds 7c the central extension spring and which is adapted to come into action when the buffer receives a heavy shock which overcomes the resistance of the light extension spring. This heavy buffer spring is arranged partly within the central socket E and partly within the hollow follower and its rear end abuts against the rear end of the central socket, while its front end is adapted to bear against the internal diaphragm or shoulder Z which cou- 8o nects the pocket g with the follower.

The rear portions of the side stems f pass through openings formed in the rear ends of the side sockets E and enter recesses m formed in the end sill in line with said openings. Each of these side stems carries a pocket or sleeve 11 which abuts at its closed front end against a shoulder or enlargement 12, formed on the adjacent portion of the stem.

N N represent righting springs which are 0 applied to the side stems between the closed ends of the pockets n and the rear ends of the side sockets E and which tend to return the buffer plate to its normal position, parallel with the end of the car, after rounding a 5 curve. The pockets n inclose the front portions of the righting springs and thereby pre vent the latter from coming in contact with the outer ends of the side sockets and interfering with the movements of the side stems. 10o

In order to permit of the requisite lateral play of the side stems, the side sockets are elongated horizontally, as shown in Fig. 3.

The central extension spring and the right- -ing springs are preferably so long that when the buffer is in normal contact with the butfer of an opposing car, these springs are slightly compressed, but not to -such an extent as to interfere with the easy coupling and uncoupling of the cars.

When the buffer receives an ordinary shock only the extension spring and the side springs are compressed by the inward movement of the central and side stems, but in case the buffer receives a violent shock which overpowers such light springs, the diaphragm l of the follower strikes the front end of the heavy buffer spring and compresses the same, thereby easing the shock and also protecting the draft gear from injury.

Upon removing the key or bolt h, the central and side stems E E with the buffer attached thereto, may be withdrawn from the sockets of the base plate for making repairs, without disturbing the base plate.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a car-buffer, the combination with the base plate or bracket secured to the end of the car and having a forwardly projecting socket, of a follower guided in said socket, a buffer spring or springs arranged in said socket, and a buffer having a supporting stem attached to said follower, substantially as set forth.

2. In a car-buffer, the combination with the base plate or bracket secured to theend of the car and having a forwardly projecting socket, of a follower guided in said socket and provided in its front portion with a reduced portion or pocket closed at its front end and forming a shoulder within the follower, a heavy 4o spring arranged in said socketand adapted to bear at its front end against the shoulder of the pocket, at light spring bearing against the closed front end of said pocket, and a buffer carried by said follower, substantially as set forth.

3. In a car-buffer, the combination with a base plate or bracket secured to the end of the car and provided with a forwardly projecting socket, of a follower guided in said socket and provided at its front end with perforated ears, a buffer having a supporting stem passing through said socket, a pin or key passing through the buffer stem and the perforated.

ears of the follower, and a buffer spring or springs arranged in said socket, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a car buffer, the combination with a base plate secured to the endof the car and having forwardly projecting central and side sockets, of a follower arranged in the central socket and carrying a stem, a butter pivoted centrally tosaid stem, springs arranged in said socket, side stems pivoted to the end portions of the buffer and passing through said side sockets, and springs applied to said side stems and arranged in the side sockets, substantially as set forth.

WVitness myhand this 29th day of May, 1894:.

WILLARD F. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

JNo. J. BONNER, ELLA R. DEAN. 

